KMT lawmakers urge aide review in light of Lin case

By Huang Wei-chu and Shih Hsiao-kuang / Staff Reporters

Tue, Jul 03, 2012 - Page 3

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members yesterday called on President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to conduct a thorough review of his placement of government officials, following an alleged bribery case involving former Executive Yuan -secretary-general Lin Yi-shih (林益世).

Given how the Ma administration has promoted itself as an anti--corruption government, Lin’s alleged involvement in a graft case is not only a slap in the face, but has also prompted calls from within the KMT for a re-examination of personnel appointments.

Lin tendered his resignation as Executive Yuan secretary-general on Friday having been embroiled in corruption allegations, to which he is said to have partially confessed during a 12-hour interview with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Special Investigation Division.

KMT Legislator Ting Shou-chung (丁守中) expressed doubt about the size of Ma’s decision-making group and his ability to evaluate people, while some party members said that since Ma only put those he trusted in senior positions, having one of his key aides involved in an alleged corruption case suggested that he needed to reassess the way in which he judges people.

Other lawmakers expressed different opinions on the issue.

KMT Legislator Wu Yu-jen (吳育仁) said that compared with the former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), “the way in which the Ma administration has dealt with [Lin’s bribery allegation] proves that it does not turn a blind eye to malfeasance [by high-ranking officials].”

KMT Communication and Culture Committee head Chuang Po-chung (莊伯仲) said that in light of the detention request filed against Lin, he had referred Lin’s case to the party’s Evaluation and Discipline Committee to decide whether the case constituted a violation of party discipline.

According to the KMT’s regulations regarding violation of party procedure, members who violate the Anti-Corruption Act (貪污治罪條例) are liable to have their party rights suspended if found guilty at the first trial and would be expelled from the party if found guilty at the second trial.